I will be available for 2021 AFCON – Osimhen

• …You are halfway in your rehabilitation – Napoli Doc

By Amaechi Agbo

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has confirmed that he would be available for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon next month if selected by the coach to be part of Super Eagles squad.

Osimhen’s confirmation of his availability is a huge relief to the Super Eagles technical crew and Nigeria football followers as his injury and subsequent facial surgery last month had cast huge doubt on his participation in the 33rd AFCON next month.

However, his doctor at the Italian giants, Napoli has cast doubt over his availability declaring that the former Lille of France starman is halfway in his ossification.

The former Lille of France starman disclosed his availability on Twitter on Tuesday.

“I will be available for AFCON unless I’m not among the players picked to represent Nigeria,” Osimhen twitted.

Napoli coach and medical personnel who operated on him had stipulated that he would be out for three months. 

However, the striker returned to training after two weeks but it is understood that he would wear protective mask to play in the meantime.

Osimhen who was instrumental in Super Eagles qualification for the the 2021 AFCON and reaching the play-off of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers received the temporary polycarbonate mask that will allow him to resume training with a football. 

Report says with the polycarbonate, he is expected to be back to field of action in a matter of weeks

The 2021 AFCON will commence on January 9 to February 6 in Cameroon with Nigeria paired in Group C with Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau. 

Nigeria will open her campaign against 2019 hosts, Egypt on January 11 and will face Sudan on 15th before rounding up her preliminary round with a clash against Guinea Bissau on January 19, 2022.

But Napoli doctor Riggiero Roberto have said that Osimhen need to have time for ossification stating that halfway in the healing process

It is exactly a month this week that Osimhen suffered multiple fractures in his head during a league clash against Inter Milan – a tie the Neapolitans lost 3-2.

Napoli later announced that the club’s record signing would be out of action for at least three months after he subsequently underwent successful surgery. 

But the 22-year-old has recovered faster than projected after he resumed individual training last week and was pictured Tuesday in training with a specially designed face mask. 

Doctor Roberto Ruggiero , who created Osimhen’s protective mask, spoke to Radio Marte during the “Marte Sport Live” broadcast. 

The former Lille striker declared on Tuesday that he would be available for selection at the prerogative of the national team handlers.